Transposing device for pianos.



C. HINDERMAN.

TRANSPOSING DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8,1912- 1,200,422. Patentedflct. 3, 1916.

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C. HINDERMAN.

TRANSPOSING DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3| I912.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL HINDER-MAN, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSPOSING DEVICE FOR, PIANOS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL HINDERMAN, a citizen of Switzerland, residingat Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Transposing Device forPianos, of which-the following is a specification.

I My invention relates to devices, suitable for pianofortes, for thepurpose of mechanically transposing key tones, or the notes of musicalnotation in their interpretation; that is, mechanically transposing thekey from that in which a piece of music is written, to a different keyor different keys at the will of the performer, thus enabling theperformer to finger the keys of the keyboard as in the key indicated bythe piece of music he is playing, while he renders on the piano thepiece of music in a different key or different keys, as he may choose.

A purpose of my invention is to interpose a laterally movable connectionin the action of the pianos between each individual key and some part ofthe action, as, for example, the wippen, with which the'key is normallyconnected, in order that all the keys of the keyboard may then uniformlyand relatively operate, at the will. of the player, wippens or otherpredetermined parts, different from those regularly connected orconnectible with the keys, as in existing pianos.

A further purpose of my invention is to substitute a shifting ortransposing mechanism for one of the connecting parts of the pianoaction, preferably between the key or key rocker and the wippen, andmost desirably for the part known as the abstract.

A further purpose of my invention is to shift movable terminals of anintermediate action part, so as to vary the connections between the keysand wippens, or other working parts of the piano action, causing thekeys to impel at the will of the operator different wippens or otherworking parts.

A further purpose of my invention is to connect parts of the pianoaction with laterally movable levers, so as to uniformly alter at willthe tones produced by a set of keys. I prefer to maintain one end ofeach connecting device in effective working con nection with the samekey at all times, and to shift the other end of the lever either way atwill to impel different action parts of the same character, according tothe positions of the ends of the levers, and to vary all equally anduniformly.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,869.

A further purpose of my invention is to so attach laterally movablelevers to certain parts of a piano action as to enable the player touniformly alter the tones produced-by all of the keys, so that each keyof the piano will produce any one of several different tones at the willof the player.

A further purpose of my invention is to effect throughout the wholeaction of a piano, uniform. lateral spacing of parts of the action,preferably of the abstracts or of the parts of mydevice that perform thefunction of the abstracts, thus correcting the irregularity of spacingor gaps caused by the intervention of the action supporting bracketsusually placed within or between parts or sections of the action.

A further purpose of my invention is to bring otherwise unevenly spacedparts of the piano action into positions of uniform lateral spacing,preferably where there are vertical gaps between two or more sets orsections of such spaced parts, and to insert a laterally shiftableconnecting means or device within these gaps.

A further purpose of my invention is to make a transposing insertavailable between vertically separated piano action parts, which areeither initiallyor for my purpose arranged in sets spaced uniformly in alateral direction, and to permit this insert to be rocked orlongitudinally thrown or otherwise moved, at the selection of themanufacturer.

A further purpose of my invention is to insert laterally shiftableintermediate members between piano action parts, and to arrange forcorresponding shifting of the pivots of these members relatively to thestrings and keys of the pianos.

A further purpose of my invention is to pivot preferably laterallymovable arms upon one or more centers so as to be capable of movement inthe plane required by the location of the piano action parts, and tocontrol the positions of these arms so as to enable each key of a pianoand all of the keys collectively, to operate different and varioushammers of the action and hence sound different and various strings ofthe piano at the will of the performer.

1 illustrate my invention by only one of the many forms in which itmight appear, and have selected that form which I deem to be thesimplest and most practical, and best illustrating its principles.

In the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 illustrates a verticalsection transverse to the keyboard of a piano; Fig. 2 is a partial frontelevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; 3 is a broken section takenupon line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan of the transposing gearsthat move the operating or transposing bar, with other parts in place,and showing a section of the piano case mortised to permit lateralmovement of transposing bar; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a portion ofthe keyboard adapted to my invention; Fig. 6 is a section taken uponline 6-6 of Fig. 5, with the keys in place; Fig. 7 is a front elevationof indicaor shown at the left side of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a side elevationof idler and its bearing shown in Fig. 4t; 9 and 10 are verticaltransverse sections, showing the forms of two action brackets used.

In the drawings, the same numerals of reference refer to like members.

While my invention is intended to apply particularly to pianos of allkinds, and is most conveniently described in connection with pianos, Irecognize that it has a wider application, and can be applied, whereverthe operation of keys or the like, through intermediate connections,produces a series of sounds ortones and permits the interpolation of mytransposing mechanism.

The supports or brackets upon which the piano action is mounted andcarried usually cause interruptions of the regularity of the lateralspacing of the abstracts, wippens, strings, key ends and other parts.These interruptions differ in their location and extent, in the variousactions. Since the normal piano action requires that the wippen and endof the corresponding key be in line for connection through the abstract,it makes little difference whether these interruptions extend the fullheight or depth of the action or not.

In applying my invention to a piano, I prefer to have all the keysstraight, and the corresponding individual key actions in line withthem, securing uniform spacing thereby, and interpolating my inventionbetween the uniformly spaced key ends and the corresponding wippens, orother parts of the action. However, I will describe my invention asadapted to existing types of pianos, in which some of the key ends havebeen diverted laterally to accommodate the breaks or gaps betweencertain of the wippens and other action parts left for insertion of thebrackets.

Numeral 25 represents a key bottom upon which rests the key frame 26,provided with back rail cloth or cushion 27 upon which the key 28 fallsand rests. The keys are shown in their various shapes in Fig. 5,providing for a bracket space, and I readjust the space by means of keyrockers 29, which differ from the ordinary key rockers in beingangularly turned to overcome the irregular spacing of the key ends 30,thus providing uniform spacing. In the normal piano action. the wippens31 are also spaced irregularly (as seen best in Fig. 2), incorrespondence with the spacing of the ends of the keys (seen in Fig. Icorrect the irregularity of spacing found in these wippens, by means ofappropriate connectors 32, which are alternately bent outwardly andinwardly, to avoid interference (as seen at 32 in Fig. 1), and are soconstructed that the lower ends of these connectors (seen at 35) are alluniformly spaced to correspond with the spacing of the ends 30 of thekey rockers. It is between the terminals 30 and 35 that I prefer toinsert and interpolate my transposing mechanism, although it is obviousthat this insertion could be made at another point or other pointsVarying in case and practicability with the character of piano action inwhich the insertion is to be made. For convenience of this descriptiononly, my device will be described as located in the place of or as apart of the abstract, between the rocker or end of the key 30 and thewippen 31.

In order to support the piano action without interfering with mypreferably uniform spacing between the key rocker or key end and thewippen, I place one or more suitable brackets between the two ends ofthe action, as best seen at 36. I provide also any suitable brackets 37at the two ends of the action, out of the way of the transposingmechanism, which differ from the brackets 36, in that they are providedwith extensions such as the arms 38 and 39 to support the fixed bar 40,and the operating bar 41. Brackets 36 and 37 are braced in theirrelative positions by continuous bars or strips 33 and 34. The operatingor transposing bar 4L1 is constructed to move in contact with felt orcloth 42 within guide 43, which is part of arm 39.

For various reasons I prefer the form of transposing mechanism shown inFig. 1, among which is that its movement corresponds closely with thatof the abstract itself; also on account of the ease of pivoting thearms, the length of pivot which can be obtained conveniently, and thereach of the arms.

The brackets 36 and 37 might be called bracket sections, forming partonly of the complete bracket. They are provided with sockets 4:4, orother suitable means of connection with the lower ends 45 of upperbracket members 46, which may be of any desired form. I cushion ordampen the joint with cushioning material 47, to prevent noise or unduevibration.

I prefer to have one end of each transposing member in constantoperative connection with either a key end or wippen, and the same oneat all times, and have selected the lower end of the transposing memberfor this relatively fixed lateral position, because of the advantagegained in the support of the slight weight involved, and Icorrespondingly arrange the terminals or buttons i8 at the lower ends ofmy transposing devices in relatively fixed positions with respect to thekey rockers or other key terminals as 30. I accomplish this relativelyfixed position by means of guides or openings in the bar 4:0 for therods 49 to which the buttons 48 are here shown as .at tached. Thestructure shown might, of course, be considerably varied. Since theterminals 30 are'uniformly laterally spaced, the same is true of thebuttons 48, the rods 1:9, and their guides or openings.

As my transposing mechanism contemplates the shifting of at least oneend of its connection between the keys and the strings, so that each keymay cause to be struck not only the string with which it is regularlyconnected, as in the ordinary piano action, but also instead thereof,any one of different other strings at the will of the performer, off-center pivoting means or its equivalent must be included in theconnection. The uniformly spaced parts 30 and are preferably nearly inline, vertically, if the action be generally vertical otherwise lying insome other direction corresponding to the position of the action. Therods 49 and the corresponding rods 50 carrying buttons 51, are,likewise, most desirably in line. The off-center pivoting necessitatesarms 52 and 53, by which the pivotal point or points may be connectedwith the rods 49 and 50. For convenience. I prefer to pivot theterminals 54c and 55 of the two arms 52 and 53 in the same axis, andwithin the same member 56, which should be lined with cloth, felt orother suitable material 57. I form caps 58 and 59 as collars upon therods 54 and giving bearing thereby against the body of the spool orcylinder 56 through the packing interposed between. The members 56,within which the pivot is formec, are most conveniently of cylindricalor spool form. and must float, at least to the extent of beinglongitudinally movable along with theirrespective arms 52 and 53. Sincethe axial positions of the rods 49 are fixed, the members 56 must becapable of movement toward and from the front of the keyboard and shouldhave considerable freedom for lateral movement, which latter is verydesirable, if not absolutely necessary, in order that the buttons 51 maybe maintained in horizontal alinement with the terminals 35 when thepivotal arms 53 shall have swung upon their pivots. In the form ofdevice illustrated, I provide for three movements of each, member56moving it approxi-,

mately vertically with each movement of the key, in order to produce thedesired tone after the lateral position has been set; moving itlaterally to approximately one-half of the extent of lateral movement ofthe terminals 51, so as to divide the lateral swing between the arms 52and 53 equally; and moving it forward sufficiently to permit the rods 49and 50 to remain in .alinement with the parts 30 and with which theyrespectively engage. The said three movements of the member 56 areguided by brackets 60 terminating in pin 61 which can move vertically,as well as swing within guiding aperture 61 in the floating or movablepart or strip 62, which rests upon the tops of narrow brackets 63 atintervals, here shown as braced by 6%. Vibration of strip 62 isprevented by means of fabric or felt 65. Since the guide strip (32 is toform a track for the roller 87, as hereinafter indicated, I prefer tostiffen it by a brace rib 66. Each of the entire set of transposinginserts is thus relatively fixed at its lower end and relatively movableat its upper end. I effect the movement of the upper ends by means ofthe operating bar 41, which may obviously be moved by many and variantmethods. I show one means in the rack 67 (Fig. l) fixed upon the edge ofthe transposing bar 41. with which rack gear 68 engages through idler69. Gear 68 is connected with operating mechanism in front of thekeyboard by means of shaft 70 (Fig. 1) supported by bearings 71 and 72,bevel gears 73 and 7%, connecting shaft 75, suitably mounted, and handle76 (Fig. In order that the handle may be out of the way when not in use,I hinge it at 77, forming a pivot there, and provide a telescopingconnection between the sleeve 78, to which it is connected, and theshaft 75, as best seen in Fig. 5.

Upon the front of the piano at any suitable point, preferablyimmediately below the keyboard, for convenient connection with theoperating mechanism last described, I place an indicator 79 (Fig. 5),which is operated through bracket or arm 80, by means of its rack 81.The rack is shown as capable of being moved by cog wheel 82 throughsprocket wheels 83 and 84 and chain 85.

Obviously the operation of transposing bar 41, or its equivalent, aswell as the indication of the movement, may be greatly varied. As thebrackets 37 (Fig. 9) are located at the ends of the action only, and thebar 4-1 lacks intermediate support, I prefer to provide support for itbetween these brackets upon floating strip 62 by means of dependingbracket 86 (Fig. 1) carrving any suitable rest, as roller 87. The strip62 is free to move on the intervening felt 65 on t p of brackets 63 andis guided and restricted in its movement by the stirrup 88 (Fig. 2). Thehand lever 76 is turned to throw the bar 11 to the required distancegaged by indicator 79, in either direction as required; in this way, thebuttons 51 are transposed from the lower ends of the connectors 35, withwhich they normally connect, to other connectors on either side thereofand to the extent desired, thus enabling the performer to operate atwill through the keys, relatively different wippens. As a result, thestriking of a key will sound a half tone, tone, or more, above or belowthe normal tone produced by that key, corresponding to the extent anddirection of movement of the indicator 79, and

there will be the same relative change as to the other keys. The endkeys in the direction of movement (varying in number according to theextent of movement of indicator 79) will not operate any wippens at allunless the piano be specially substrung and superstrung and the actionbe extended. This transposing mechanism could be effectively inserted,though not with the same convenience, at some other point in the action,so that it is obviously immaterial at which end of the abstract, or atwhich point in the piano action, the transposing mechanism be inserted.

While I recognize that any kind of movement, support or guidance ispermissible for the yoke comprising the parts 5257 just so its oneterminal maintains contact at one end and the other terminal maintainscontact at the other during the transmission of the impulse from the keyto the string, I have preferred to make this movement a bodily verticalmovement of the entire yoke rather than for example a rocking move mentof the parts about a center, because of the simplicity attained by useof the bodily vertical movement.

For convenience in referring to the parts representing the position andfunction of the abstract, I have referred to the parts carrying theupper and lower abstract ter minals and other parts which are clear fromthe context as interrupted abstracts. I have also referred to the partscarrying the upper and lower abstract terminals as upper and lowerabstract members.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of keys, a keyrocker for each key, a wippen corresponding to each key rocker, thewippens being irregularly spaced, projections from the wippens formingregu larly spaced terminals, interrupted abstracts cooperating withthese terminals and means in the interruption of the ab stracts forcausing a given key to operate upon a different wippen.

2. In a device of the character stated, a

lower abstract member, an upper abstract member, a yoke disposedtransversely to the abstract members and connecting the abstractmembers, and means for varying the angular relation of the yoke membersto connect the abstract members in different and variable relations.

3. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of keys, a pluralityof lower abstract members, connections between the keys and abstractmembers, a plurality of upper abstract members, irregularly spacedwippens, regularly spaced terminals depending therefrom and armsshiftable in opposite directions and movable transversely to theabstract members for con necting the lower abstract members withdifferent terminals at will.

4. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of keys, a pluralityof wippens, a plurality of upper and lower abstract mem bers,connections between the keys and ab stract members, a yoke for eachlower and upper abstract member having its arms pivoted to permitrelative angular movement, and a movable yoke support connected to allof the yokes and causing them to move in unison.

5. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of keys, a pluralityof wippens, a plurality of interrupted abstracts each comprising anupper and a lower member, a yoke for each interrupted abstract,operative at the point of interruption thereof, connections between thekeys and abstracts, pivotal means for each yoke movable in the plane ofthe abstract and a pivot for one of the arms of each yoke permittingrelative angular movement of the arms of each yoke in a plane transverseto the interrupted abstracts.

6. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of interruptedabstracts forming upper and lower members, irregularly spaced wippens,regularly spaced terminals depending therefrom and means in theinterruption for selectively connecting a terminal with any one ofseveral lower abstract members.

7. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of wippens, upperand lower abstract members, normally connecting corresponding wippensand capable of vertical movement, yokes, pivotal means for one limb ofeach yoke providing relative angular movement of the two limbs thereofto allow the abstract members to be placed in position to operatedifferent wippens and means for moving one limb of each yoke angularly,all of them to the same extent.

8. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of wippens,corresponding interrupted abstracts, yokes, one movable in the plane ofeach abstract, forming a connection between the parts of the abstract, aguide placing one end of each yoke in line with one end of an abstractand means for moving one limb of the yoke to connect different abstractparts at will.

9. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of keys adapted tooperate abstracts, a plurality of wippens, an upper and lower abstractmember for each wippen and key, a frame movable transversely withrespect to the abstracts, a support for said frame, a plurality ofguides upon said frame, a movable yoke upon each guide, each comprisinga body, and pivotal arms thereon movable angularly with respect to eachother, the arms being connected with the abstract members, and means forcausing movement of the frame.

10. In a piano action, the combination of irregularly spaced wippens,and regularly spaced terminals depending therefrom, with laterallymovable abstract parts, irregularly spaced connections for the abstractparts, and a transposing bar connected therewith, so that each and everyabstract part may be relatively and uniformly shifted from connectionwith one wippen to connection with another wippen.

11. In a piano action, a combination of shiftable abstract members,'rregularly spaced wippens having regularly spaced terminals and amovable transposing bar, so that each and every abstract member may berelatively and uniformly shifted from one key to another key.

12. In a piano action, a series of wippens, abstract members engageabletherewith, connecting abstract members in line therewith in thedirection of abstract movement, keys and connections for moving thesecond named abstract members and means for causing the first namedabstract members to connect with variant wippens.

13. In a piano action, a plurality of wippens, a plurality ofinterrupted abstracts having their upper ends in position to makecontact with the wippens and their lower ends normally in direct linetherewith in the direction of movement of the abstract, means forstriking the lower ends of the interrupted abstracts, and laterallymovable means in the interruptions of the abstracts, whereby one end ofeach abstract may be moved laterally with respect to the line ofmovement of the abstract.

14. In a piano action, a plurality of wippens, plurality of keys,connections therebetween, having both ends of each connection normallyin line in the direction of movement of the connection, and having oneend of each connection laterally movable with respect to the line ofmovement of the connection to join the same keys with different wippensand means for shifting the laterally movable ends.

15. In a device of the character stated, a plurality of keys irregularlyspaced at a portion of their lengths and terminating in regularly spacedkey rockers, a plurality of irregularly spaced wippens, regularly spacedterminals depending from the wippens and laterally movable connectionsbetween the key rockers and terminals adapted to be shifted to causemovement of the same key rocker to operate difierent wippens.

CARL HINDER-MAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE MARX, JOHN l/V. Bns'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G

